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Investigations

President of South Florida Aircraft Repair Facility Ordered To Pay Restitution for Conspiracy To Bribe an FAA Inspector

On March 10, 2017, Rolando Suarez was ordered in U.S. District Court, Miami, Florida, to pay restitution, jointly and severally with coconspirators, in the amount of $711,940.

Suarez, president of Avcom Avionics & Instruments (Avcom), an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-authorized repair station in South Florida, conspired to bribe an FAA aviation safety inspector. Previously, in February 2017, Suarez was sentenced to 24 months’ incarceration, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $20,100 fine.

The investigation revealed that from approximately 2010 to 2013, Suarez employed an active FAA inspector, who provided Avcom with unauthorized technical publications, notices, and warnings about inspections and investigations and competitors’ confidential information. In exchange, Suarez provided monies and gifts, all with the intent to encourage acts in violation of the inspector’s official duty.

DOT-OIG conducted this investigation jointly with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.